FAAN Clears Bolt to Resume Airport Operations, Denies Fixing Taxi Fares

By Emmanuel Kwada

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has cleared ride-hailing company Bolt to resume operations at Nigerian airports, following an operational agreement reached between the authority and the platform.

FAAN said the agreement resolves issues that had disrupted Bolt’s airport services and generated concerns among passengers who rely on e-hailing platforms for transportation to and from airports.

In a statement issued on Thursday by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, the authority said the dispute followed years of efforts to address safety, security and accountability concerns surrounding commercial and e-hailing vehicles operating within airport premises.

According to FAAN, some of the concerns included unregulated passenger pickups and solicitation, as well as situations involving drivers operating across multiple ride-hailing platforms.

The authority said Bolt had now met the necessary operational requirements and could immediately resume its airport services.

FAAN also rejected claims that it had imposed or fixed fares for airport taxis, insisting that taxi rates existed independently of its airport car-hire management system.

The authority explained that its Airport Car-Hire Management System (ACHRAMS) was introduced to address regulatory and security concerns and was not designed as an e-hailing platform or as a competitor to Bolt, Uber and other mobility companies.

FAAN said public criticism over airport taxi fares was partly triggered by the increased visibility of existing rates under the system.

It maintained that the fares being discussed were neither newly imposed by its current management nor substantially different from rates that existed before ACHRAMS was introduced.

The authority acknowledged that the rates appeared significantly higher when compared with prices passengers had become accustomed to paying through e-hailing platforms.

“We sincerely apologise for the difficulties this caused our passengers,” Agbebire said, adding that FAAN had “listened, reflected and made the necessary adjustments.”

FAAN said it was also holding discussions with other e-hailing operators and expected the engagements to be concluded “in the coming days.”

However, the authority did not disclose the names of the other platforms whose airport operations remain subject to the ongoing discussions.

FAAN stressed that its actions were motivated by regulatory, safety and security considerations rather than commercial interests.

It also rejected suggestions that it was attempting to establish a monopoly over transportation services at Nigerian airports.

The authority said the resolution with Bolt was part of its broader effort to ensure that airport transportation services operate within a framework that protects passengers while allowing legitimate mobility providers to continue serving travellers.

FAAN apologised to passengers affected by the temporary disruption and thanked them for their patience and understanding as discussions with the affected operators continue.